Validation Study of the Revised Version of the Scale of Prejudice Against Sexual and Gender Diversity in Brazil

The Mastery of Competencies for the Care of LGBT+ People by Different Health Professionals

This study aims to compare the mastery of competencies in assisting the LGBT+ population of Brazilian health professionals. Data collection occurred in a face-to-face and virtual manner, in the first semester of 2018. The health professionals answered a socio-demographic and functional questionnaire, in addition to the questionnaire Measurement of Training Needs for Health Care for the LGBT+ Public. The data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. The project research was submitted to and approved by the IMED Research Ethics Committee (CAAE 69116917.6.0000.5319). The sample (n= 380) was made up mostly of psychologists (42.3%), female (81%), heterosexual (73.2%), aged between 26 and 35 years (36%), Catholic (41%), living in the south region (36.9%), and working in the profession for ten years or more (34.3%). Skills gaps on the LGBT+ theme was identified, especially in topics such as "approach to the patient's sexuality," "interference of religious beliefs in care," "care with the genitalia and breast of the trans individual," among others. Professionals trained in psychology and non-heterosexuals had a greater mastery of the theme than the others. The fragmentation of knowledge and skills hinders the full and equal access to the health system, and continued educational actions are recommended.

The Interactions Between Vulnerabilities for HIV and Syphilis among Cisgender and Transgender People Who Use Drugs

In Brazil, transgender people are most affected by HIV, and crack cocaine addiction may contribute to social vulnerability and exposure to sexual and violence-related risks. This cross-sectional study comprised 2393 individuals seeking addiction treatment, consisting of 43 trans women, 1995 cisgender men, and 355 cisgender women. Records of rapid test results for HIV and syphilis and screening responses of trans women were compared to both cisgender groups using a logistic regression model to identify associated risk factors. HIV prevalence was higher in the transgender group (39.5%) than in cis women and men (5.9% and 3.6%, respectively). Our study showed an eightfold higher chance of a positive HIV test among transgender individuals who used drugs (OR: 8.79, p < .01, 95% CI: 3.90-19.78) compared to cisgender people who used drugs. A lifetime history of syphilis infection was more common in transgender people (60.0%) and cis women (32.8%) than in cis men (9.5%). Active syphilis was also more common in the transgender population (OR: 5.46, p < .01, 95% CI: 2.63 11.32). In our sample, 44.2% of transgender individuals had a history of at least one suicide attempt in their lifetime. Our results showed that transgender women were at higher risk of crack cocaine use (OR: 5.51, p < .01, 95% CI: 2.16-14.06) than cisgender men and women. The study showed that trans women had a higher prevalence of syphilis and HIV, and a greater chance of being homeless. The synergy of these vulnerabilities may have led to our findings of high psychotic symptoms and a history of suicide attempts in transgender individuals.

Evidências de Validade da Escala de Orientação à Dominância Social no Brasil

Resumo O presente estudo buscou adaptar a Escala de Orientação à Dominância Social (SDO7) para o contexto brasileiro, propor uma versão reduzida do instrumento, avaliar sua estrutura fatorial e evidências de validade entre grupos. Para tanto, realizou-se coleta de dados on-line em que participaram 1.056 indivíduos de quatro diferentes amostras. Análises fatoriais confirmatórias indicaram os melhores índices de ajuste para a estrutura original de quatro fatores, sendo dois substanciais (Dominância e Anti-Igualitarismo) e dois de método (pró-traço e contra-traço). Os fatores substanciais, denominados “Dominância Social” e “Anti-Igualitarismo”, apresentaram alfa de Cronbach superior a 0,70 em todas as amostras. As versões longa e reduzida da escala apresentaram bons índices de validade de critério entre grupos com correlações altas entre os escores dos fatores substanciais e a autocategorização política. Portanto, o instrumento apresentou evidências de validade e fidedignidade e podem ser utilizados em estudos futuros.

Korean healthcare providers' attitude, knowledge, and behaviors regarding sexual orientation and gender identity: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose

This study investigated Korean healthcare providers' attitudes toward sexual and gender minority (SGM) persons and their knowledge and behavior concerning the collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SO/GI).

Methods

In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 137 Korean healthcare providers were recruited through convenience sampling from internet communities for medical professionals. A structured questionnaire was created using Google Surveys. The Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation analysis were performed.

Results

The sample was mostly women (80.3%) and nurses (83.9%), who overall negative attitudes toward SGM persons and low levels of knowledge and behavior with regard to the collection of patients' SO/GI data. Participants in their 20s, who were religious, and had clinical experiences in treating or providing nursing care for SGM persons had higher levels of knowledge about the collection of SO/GI data. The level of engagement in collecting SO/GI data was higher among women and in their 20s and 30s, unreligious participants, nurses, and those with less than 10 years of clinical experience. Positive attitudes toward SGM persons were associated with higher levels of knowledge, but lower levels of behavior, regarding the collection of SO/GI data.

Conclusion

It is important to recognize the diversity of patients' SO/GI and to collect the corresponding information. To this end, it is necessary to develop and use a standardized SO/GI form. Healthcare providers should also receive education and training related to the health of SGM persons to resolve health problems that disproportionately affect SGM persons and related health disparities.

Prejudice against sexual and gender diversity and beliefs about sex education among university students

Abstract Discrimination against sexual and gender minorities is a persistent problem in several contexts. This article sought to investigate prejudice against sexual and gender diversity and beliefs about sex education among students of licenciatura (Brazilian term for a bachelor of education degree with a specialization) courses from different areas, and whether there are differences in the manifestation of these attitudes and beliefs between freshmen and seniors. Five hundred eighty university students participated in this study and the data was collected through scales to measure sexual and gender prejudice and beliefs about sex education, and through a sociodemographic characterization form. The results showed that prejudice and belief indices varied by area of study and differences were observed in the mean values of beliefs, but not in those of prejudice, between freshmen and seniors. The importance of more investments is emphasized so that undergraduate students present lower levels of this type of prejudice when completing their respective courses.

Measurement of gender as a social determinant of health in epidemiology-A scoping review

Background

The relevance of gender as a social determinant of health and its role in the production of health inequalities is now broadly acknowledged. However, the plethora of existing approaches to capture gender, which often stem from disciplines outside of epidemiology, makes it difficult to assess their practicality and relevance for a given research purpose. We conducted a scoping review to 1) map the evidence of how gender can be operationalised in quantitative epidemiology and 2) design a tool to critically evaluate the measures identified.

Methods

We identified peer-reviewed articles in electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO). Eligible sources described the quantitative operationalisation of the social dimension of gender. With the help of a newly developed checklist, we assessed their relevance from an analytical perspective (e.g. intersectionality) and their potential for implementation in epidemiology.

Results

Gender measures principally assessed gender roles and norms, gender-based discrimination and violence, and structural gender (in)equality. Of the 344 measures included in this review, the majority lacked theoretical foundation, and tended to reinforce the binary understanding of gender through stereotypes of femininity and masculinity. Only few measures allowed for an intersectional approach and a multilevel understanding of gender mechanisms. From a practical point of view, gender measures demonstrated potential for use in varied populations and contexts.

Conclusions

A range of gender measures are readily available for epidemiological research, addressing different levels and dimensions of gender as a social construct. With our theory-informed, practice-driven scoping review, we highlighted strengths and limitations of such measures and provided analytical tools for researchers interested in conducting intersectional, gender-sensitive analyses.

Milfont T, Cantal C, Koller SH, Costa ÂB. Evidence for Cultural Variability in Right-Wing Authoritarianism Factor Structure in a Politically Unstable Context

Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) has been a central explanatory concept and predictor of sociopolitical and intergroup attitudes over the last decades. Research indicates RWA is formed by the subdimensions of authoritarianism, traditionalism, and conservatism. The objective of this study was to assess the cross-cultural validity of this three-factor model in a politically unstable context where an alternative factor model was observed. Data from four Brazilian samples ( N total = 1,083) were assessed to test whether a four-factor model (with conservatism split) identified in Brazil recently was better fitting than the three-factor model. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and 3-year longitudinal evidence confirmed the four-factor model is the best RWA structure in the Brazilian context and that only the pro-trait conservatism items indexing submission to authority have adequate psychometric properties. Implications for future RWA propositions are discussed.

Relações entre Preconceito e Crenças sobre Diversidade Sexual e de Gênero em Psicólogos/as Brasileiros/as

Resumo: Examinar as crenças de psicólogos/as sobre indivíduos e grupos atingidos pelo preconceito contribui para a preparação do/a profissional no atendimento a esse público. Neste estudo, investigou-se a relação entre preconceito e crenças sobre diversidade sexual e de gênero em psicólogos/as brasileiros/as. Um questionário online foi respondido por 497 profissionais, entre 22 e 69 anos (M = 34,52; DP = 9,57), ligados/as a 22 dos 23 Conselhos Regionais de Psicologia. Utilizou-se a Escala de Preconceito contra Diversidade Sexual e de Gênero Revisada para mensurar o preconceito e a Escala de Crenças sobre a Natureza da Homossexualidade para investigar crenças sobre homossexualidade, a qual foi replicada para também investigar crenças sobre bissexualidade e transexualidade. Observaram-se índices baixos de preconceito e a predominância de crenças psicossociais para compreender a diversidade sexual e de gênero. O tipo de crença que melhor explicou a ocorrência de preconceito foi de base psicológica, representado pelas atribuições causais de perversão, má resolução de conflitos com figuras parentais e abusos sexuais sofridos na infância. Além disso, embora com tamanhos de efeito pequenos, foram encontradas correlações positivas de preconceito com a perspectiva teórica da psicanálise e orientação psicanalítica, com a modalidade de avaliação psicológica e/ou psicodiagnóstico e com a área de atuação em neurociência do comportamento. Tendo em vista a população estudada, ainda que os índices tenham sido baixos, considera-se preocupante a manifestação de preconceito e, em especial, o fato de crenças psicológicas terem sido as que melhor explicaram os índices mais elevados de preconceito.

A Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of Composite LGBT Prejudice and Discrimination Scales

Prejudice and discrimination against LGBT individuals is widespread and has been shown to have negative consequences for sexual and gender minority persons' physical and psychological wellbeing. A recent and problematic trend in the literature is to compositely measure prejudice toward and discrimination against LGBT persons. As such, a review of the psychometric properties of scales assessing, in a combinatory fashion, negative attitudes and/or behaviors toward LGBT persons is warranted. In the current study, 32 scales were identified, and their psychometric properties were evaluated. Most of the scales reviewed did not provide sufficient information regarding item development and refinement, scale dimensionality, scale score reliability, or validity. Properties of the reviewed scales are summarized, and recommendations for better measurement practice are articulated.